Navigation Links
Pitt researchers create non-toxic clean-up method for potentially toxic nano materials
Date:12/16/2008

PITTSBURGHUniversity of Pittsburgh researchers have developed the first natural, nontoxic method for biodegrading carbon nanotubes, a finding that could help diminish the environmental and health concerns that mar the otherwise bright prospects of the super-strong materials commonly used in products, from electronics to plastics.

A Pitt research team has found that carbon nanotubes deteriorate when exposed to the natural enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP), according to a report published recently in Nano Letters coauthored by Alexander Star, an assistant professor of chemistry in Pitt's School of Arts and Sciences, and Valerian Kagan, a professor and vice chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health in Pitt's Graduate School of Public Health. These results open the door to further development of safe and natural methodswith HRP or other enzymesof cleaning up carbon nanotube spills in the environment and the industrial or laboratory setting.

Carbon nanotubes are one-atom thick rolls of graphite 100,000 times smaller than a human hair yet stronger than steel and excellent conductors of electricity and heat. They reinforce plastics, ceramics, or concrete; conduct electricity in electronics or energy-conversion devices; and are sensitive chemical sensors, Star said. (Star created an early-detection device for asthma attacks wherein carbon nanotubes detect minute amounts of nitric oxide preceding an attack.)

"The many applications of nanotubes have resulted in greater production of them, but their toxicity remains controversial," Star said. "Accidental spills of nanotubes are inevitable during their production, and the massive use of nanotube-based materials could lead to increased environmental pollution. We have demonstrated a nontoxic approach to successfully degrade carbon nanotubes in environmentally relevant conditions."

The team's work focused on nanotubes in their raw form as a fine, graphite-li
'/>"/>

Contact: Morgan Kelly
mekelly@pitt.edu
412-624-4356
University of Pittsburgh
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Researchers identify new anti-tumor gene
2. UAF researchers to present at AGU press briefing
3. Researchers create new class of fluorescent dyes to detect reactive oxygen species in vivo
4. GUMC researchers find gene function lost in melanoma and glioblastoma
5. Pitt, NETL researchers report molecular chain reaction thought to be impossible
6. MIT researchers explain mystery of gravity fingers
7. UC San Diego researchers use metagene portraits to reveal distinct stages of kidney formation
8. CSHL researchers map changing epigenetic modifications that enable transposons to run amok
9. UNH researchers track lobster migrations to improve population estimates
10. Siblings of mentally disabled face own lifelong challenges, according to researchers
11. Caltech researchers get first look at how groups of cells coordinate their movements
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/21/2013)... of Michigan Water Center today awarded 12 research ... restoration and protection efforts. , The two-year grants ... including efforts to track the remediation of harmful ... control non-native weedy plant invasions; study chromosomal damage ... to restoration activities. , The grants were awarded ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... decades, scientists have developed many devices that can reopen ... generally effective, each of these treatments has drawbacks, including ... from MIT analyzes the potential usefulness of a new ... drug-releasing stents, but may pose fewer risks. With this ... for only a brief period, during which it releases ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... also commonly resistant to antimicrobial substances made by ... mBio , the online open-access journal of ... and host antimicrobials LL-37 and lysozyme, which help ... that patients with life-threatening multi-drug resistant infections are ... is a last-line drug for treating several kinds ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):U-M Water Center awards $570K in Great Lakes restoration grants 2U-M Water Center awards $570K in Great Lakes restoration grants 3U-M Water Center awards $570K in Great Lakes restoration grants 4Evaluating a new way to open clogged arteries 2Evaluating a new way to open clogged arteries 3Resistance to last-line antibiotic makes bacteria resistant to immune system 2Resistance to last-line antibiotic makes bacteria resistant to immune system 3
... It,s commonly known, at least among microbiologists, that ... dormancy. Dormant microbes are less like zombies ... is how large numbers of dormant microorganisms affect the ... In the current issue of Nature Reviews: Microbiology ...
... common connective tissue cell in animals is the fibroblast, which ... Neta Erez of Tel Aviv University,s Sackler Faculty of Medicine ... great harm, helping to "recruit" immune cells for tumor growth. ... cancer cell proliferation is beginning, fibroblasts rush to the scene ...
... have developed a novel system for delivery of growth ... diabetic foot ulcers. In their work published in ... of Sciences , the team from the MGH Center ... keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), a protein known to play ...
Cached Biology News:The undead may influence biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions 2Infiltrating cancer's recruitment center 2Growth-factor-containing nanoparticles accelerate healing of chronic wounds 2
(Date:5/22/2013)... NEW ORLEANS , May 22, 2013 ... of regenerative medicine, presented new data generated in collaboration ... (a leading health economics consultancy) demonstrating the significant healthcare ... and venous leg ulcers (VLU) place upon the US ... research, which reveal annual costs of up to $15 ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... 2013 Express Diagnostics Int’l, Inc. ... are pleased to announce a sponsorship agreement with ... New Zealand distributor of DrugCheck® onsite testing devices, manufactured ... in the Austin 400 May 17-19 in Austin, Texas. ... that involves each car of the Erebus Motorsport team ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... 22, 2013  Moderna Therapeutics, the pioneering company developing ... enable the in vivo production of therapeutic ... will join Moderna in early July as its ... a proven leader in the design and implementation of ... discovery to translation, clinical operations and commercial preparedness. John ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... Through science fairs, workshops, kits for ... equipment, 25 organizations will continue their work to increase ... photonics in daily life with the aid of ... in 10 countries, are the first of two groups ... SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics , ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Organogenesis Presents Findings from Groundbreaking Research Highlighting the Healthcare Resource and Economic Burden of Venous Leg Ulcers and Diabetic Foot Ulcers 2Organogenesis Presents Findings from Groundbreaking Research Highlighting the Healthcare Resource and Economic Burden of Venous Leg Ulcers and Diabetic Foot Ulcers 3Organogenesis Presents Findings from Groundbreaking Research Highlighting the Healthcare Resource and Economic Burden of Venous Leg Ulcers and Diabetic Foot Ulcers 4Australian Distributor of Express Diagnostics Signs Sponsorship Agreement with V8 Supercar Team 2Industry Leader John Reynders Joins Moderna Therapeutics as Chief Information Officer 2Industry Leader John Reynders Joins Moderna Therapeutics as Chief Information Officer 3Learning About Light: Education Outreach Projects Funded in 10 Countries Through First Round of SPIE Grants 2Learning About Light: Education Outreach Projects Funded in 10 Countries Through First Round of SPIE Grants 3
... ChanTest, the leading expert in ion channels and ... development, and safety -- is one of eight organizations ... and Commercialization Program. Governor Ted Strickland and Interim Director ... the Ohio Third Frontier Commission, Mark Barbash, announced the ...
... Aegera Therapeutics is pleased to announce the initiation ... AEG33773, a novel, orally bio-available small molecule therapeutic ... , The Phase 2a study, entitled A Multicenter, ... Efficacy of AEG33773 versus Placebo in Patients with ...
... May 6 iZumi Bio, Inc., a biotechnology ... stem cell (iPS) technology with the mission of ... differentiation of patient cells, today announced the appointments ... (CTO) and Dushyant Pathak, Ph.D., as vice president ...
Cached Biology Technology:ChanTest Awarded $4.8 Million Through the Ohio Third Frontier Research and Commercialization Program 2ChanTest Awarded $4.8 Million Through the Ohio Third Frontier Research and Commercialization Program 3Aegera Initiates Phase 2 Clinical Trial Of AEG33773 - A Small Molecule Targeting Neuropathic Pain 2iZumi Bio Appoints Dr. Berta Strulovici as Chief Technology Officer and Dr. Dushyant Pathak as Vice President of Business Development 2iZumi Bio Appoints Dr. Berta Strulovici as Chief Technology Officer and Dr. Dushyant Pathak as Vice President of Business Development 3
2,4-Dinitrophenyl hapten is conjugated to Human Serum Albumin (HSA) protein through lysine....
PGF1α-d4 contains 4 deuterium atoms at the 3, 3', 4, and 4' positions. It is intended for use as an internal standard for the quantification of PGF1α by GC- or LC-mass spectrometry....
PGD2-d4 contains 4 deuterium atoms at the 3, 3', 4, and 4' positions. It is intended for use as an internal standard for the quantification of PGD2 by GC- or LC-mass spectrometry....
Request Info...
Biology Products: